All His Works

"The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:9).

How many years has this Word lain so still in the womb of my soul that I have questioned it's life? I'm told it's living. The Living Word. But it lies so still. So long.

Yet, I wait. I can't help it. It's faith's fault! And hope may as well share the blame, too. Waiting is all the evidence I need for that! Faith and hope. Mischievous partners, those two! Working in tandem to keep me after what I don't see, but know is there and desperately need. I have a high need for God's goodness and tender mercy, (not just mercy), over all His works. Over me. In me.

He has worked this need. It wasn't my doing. It wasn't my husband's doing. It was God's doing. When I think how approved His works must be, how they must pass through Him, through Christ, down through generations before He lays a hand on me...presses this need into me... I realize that they must come with great plans and purpose. His works require His tender mercies. They require His goodness. And, since He sees fit to put me smack in the middle of His works, I require these things too. The requirement is unquestionable the minute you feel like a slab of clay slammed onto the Potter's wheel. "Lord have mercy! And while You're at it, make it tender...please!"

It's been said that we feel highest need in highest heat. Who has been pounded on the wheel? Who is waiting in the kiln at high fire. This is where I am. In the kiln. A living, breathing pot. And I'm needing to feel God's tender mercies right about now. May the need become more intense than the heat! May the need for His goodness and tender mercies manifested over all His works and over me and in me be more than the desire to escape the kiln!

I'm not there yet. I'm still feeling "all His works."  I do feel an occasional flutter within me of His goodness. His tender mercies. Happily, experience assures me that they will roll and kick and gain in strength within me. God's goodness and tender mercies will press down hard over all His works. Over the need He is creating in me. Over me. And I will bear the waiting more then than I am now until what He has worked breathes praises to Him. Delivered from the kiln to  praise! And until I breathe blessing upon blessing. Delivered from the kiln...(alive, thank you)...to bless!

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"


written by : Carolyn Roehrig